EU squabbling holds back Beijing relationship

Retired European politician Romano Prodi said Brussels would be making a "stupid" mistake if it does not grant China market economy status before it is automatically given by 2016 under the World Trade Organization accession agreement.

"I have been long supporting and asking Brussels to do so but we didn't," said former European Commission president Prodi in an exclusive interview with China Daily before Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Germany, Russia and Italy, which ends on Friday.

"Brussels is stupid if it will not give Beijing such treatment before the 2016 deadline," Prodi said.